BEAUMONT: In wake of raids, critics call for firings, resignations

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The Players

–Hired by the city in July 1993 through a contract with GGMS Inc., became city employee in June 2011

–He was paid $224,180 and had a total compensation package of $323,428 in 2013, according to transparentcalifornia.com

Urban Logic

–Hired in 1993 to help with infrastructure and financial planning

–At one time employed many of the city's top managers as contract employees, including the public works director, economic development director, planning director, finance manager and personnel director

–Company was sold in December 2013 to Kieran McKiernan, and continues to do engineering work for the city

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported which agency carried out Wednesday's searches. The FBI and Riverside County District Attorney's Office did so, DA spokesman John Hall said.

In their first gathering since a regional corruption task force raided City Hall, Beaumont city leaders were hit with calls for firings and resignations.

“I have never been so disappointed in anyone,” said Judy Bingham, a vocal critic of City Hall, during the public comment section of a special City Council meeting on Thursday, April 23. She directed her comments to Mayor Brenda Knight, who she claimed failed to look into the issues in the city.

Bingham called on the council to fire City Manager Alan Kapanicas and Police Chief Frank Coe. She also called for Knight and Councilman Jeff Fox to resign.

Kapanicas’ Palm Desert home was one of four sites searched by county officials and FBI officials on Wednesday. The raid was carried out by the FBI and Riverside County District Attorney's Office, DA spokesman John Hall said.

As part of an investigation into the consulting firm’s relationship with the city, search warrants were served at the Beaumont Civic Center, Kapanicas’ home, the Beaumont office of Urban Logic Consultants, and a Temecula location.

Urban Logic, which has provided management services to the city for more than 20 years, was purchased in December 2012 by Kieran McKiernan, and his attorney Bill Nassar of Redlands said the investigation predates his client’s involvement.

“My client is not the target of the investigation, the company is,” Nassar said Thursday. “The company is fully cooperating with the District Attorney’s office and the task force.”

Nassar said they were alerted about the search warrants Wednesday morning.

“We have nothing to hide,” Nassar said. “We’re more than happy to cooperate.”

Former Councilwoman Nacy Gall, a member of Beaumont Citizens For Responsible Growth, said members of her group spoke with investigators before the raid.

“A lot of people were pushing us,” said Gall, who served one term from 2008 to 2012. “A lot of us were talking to the DA, FBI, state agencies.”

Gall said she was “absolutely thrilled” when she heard about the raid. She said the Council was never allowed to vote on the contract with Urban Logic during her time on Council, despite her asking for the opportunity.

“We’ve been waiting for is for a long time, years.”

Agents from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI closed the Civic Center on Wednesday, where they removed some boxes and blocked the view into a room where it appeared technicians were working.

More than 500 boxes were taken from the office of Urban Logic, an unmarked office in the Beaumont Industrial Park on West 4th Street. Computers also were seized.

The city released a statement Wednesday evening saying “the warrants were served in conjunction with an investigation into Urban Logic’s business relationship with the city,” adding it is cooperating with the DA’s office.

Urban Logic Consultants was hired in 1993 to help with infrastructure and financial planning, according to a report prepared in 2013 for City Council members. It employed many of the city’s top managers as contract employees.

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